2008 Woodie Awards
Darfur hampers Chinese efforts to promote Olympics
Carolina Den Hartog
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: World Views
The relationship between China and Sudan has led many people around the world to denounce the Olympics and criticize China. Some countries, such as France, have considered boycotting the Olympics, although nothing has been made official. This certainly isn't the first time that politics has meddled with games. For example, consider the 1972 Olympics in Germany - 11 Israeli athletes were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists. During the 1980 Olympics in the USSR, 61 countries including the United States boycotted as a response to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan. China has certainly not been caught by surprise by opposition, however it would be devastating for China if several countries were to boycott.
The Olympics isn't only about games for the people of China; it is a milestone in their history. This is their way of celebrating how much they have achieved in such little time. If you consider the tragic elements of China's past, such as the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square, China has transformed itself from a country of famine and oppression into a symbol of growth and progress. China's commitment to the Olympics is thus far unmatched by any preceding country, which makes it rather disappointing that China could be responsible for the deaths of thousands in Darfur.
It's a tough issue. On one hand, I believe that games and politics do not belong together (but when is politics ever not involved?). On the other hand, the genocide in Darfur must come to an end immediately. If China has influence over Sudan, it is obligated to pressure Sudan's government to enforce all peacekeeping measures through the use of the Security Council. Unfortunately, this is hard to do because China needs Sudan and its oil reserves. China should reconsider the impact of the genocide in Darfur and use its position as the host of the Olympics to make a positive change.
China seems for now to be moving in the right direction, and the international community should continue to press on. But holding the 2008 Olympic Games hostage to China's success or failure over the Darfur issue seems to deny the spirit that the Greeks wanted to give to the Olympic games. Indeed, the Olympics do not belong to China, but to all countries and athletes that will take part; Beijing is just the venue for 2008. That's the way we should look at it.
The Olympics isn't only about games for the people of China; it is a milestone in their history. This is their way of celebrating how much they have achieved in such little time. If you consider the tragic elements of China's past, such as the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square, China has transformed itself from a country of famine and oppression into a symbol of growth and progress. China's commitment to the Olympics is thus far unmatched by any preceding country, which makes it rather disappointing that China could be responsible for the deaths of thousands in Darfur.
It's a tough issue. On one hand, I believe that games and politics do not belong together (but when is politics ever not involved?). On the other hand, the genocide in Darfur must come to an end immediately. If China has influence over Sudan, it is obligated to pressure Sudan's government to enforce all peacekeeping measures through the use of the Security Council. Unfortunately, this is hard to do because China needs Sudan and its oil reserves. China should reconsider the impact of the genocide in Darfur and use its position as the host of the Olympics to make a positive change.
China seems for now to be moving in the right direction, and the international community should continue to press on. But holding the 2008 Olympic Games hostage to China's success or failure over the Darfur issue seems to deny the spirit that the Greeks wanted to give to the Olympic games. Indeed, the Olympics do not belong to China, but to all countries and athletes that will take part; Beijing is just the venue for 2008. That's the way we should look at it.
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